Rose plant -- Keijourna variety

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant is provided which forms in abundance attractive very large double blossoms of long vase life. The blossoms are vermilion red on the upper surface and cardinal red on the under surface. The plant exhibits an erect growth habit, forms vigorous vegetation and is well suited for cut flower production. Good resistance to diseases is manifest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant was created by artificialpollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had beenstudied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the newvariety was an unnamed seedling. The male parent (i.e., the pollenparent) of the new variety was the Meirodium variety (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 4,037). The parentage of the new variety can be summarized asfollows:

    Unnamed Seedling×Meidrodium.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and plantletswere obtained which were physically and biologically different from eachother. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plantof the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

(a) forms in abundance attractive very large double blossoms which arevermilion red on the upper surface and cardinal red on the under surfaceand exhibit a long vase life,

(b) exhibits an erect growth habit,

(c) is well suited for cut flower production in a greenhouse,

(d) forms vigorous vegetation, and

(e) exhibits good resistance to cryptogamic diseases.

The blossom production of plants of the new variety is high particularlywhen the stem length is considered.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural and isparticularly well-suited for the production of cut flowers.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation by anumber of routes, including budding, grafting, cuttage, etc. Thecharacteristics of the new variety have been found to be strictlytransmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation toanother.

The new variety has been named the Keijourna variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were one year of age and observed during Februarywhile grafted on Rosa indicia understock and growing in greenhouse atCap d'Antibes, France.

FIG. 1 illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud as the sepals open;

FIG. 4 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud when the petals open;

FIG. 5 illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6 illustrates a specimen of an open flower -- plan view -- obverse;

FIG. 7 illustrates a specimen of an open flower -- plan view -- reverse;

FIG. 8 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower immediately priorto petal drop -- plan view -- obverse;

FIG. 9 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower immediately priorto petal drop -- plan view -- reverse;

FIG. 10 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12 illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13 illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets -- planview -- under surface;

FIG. 15 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets -- plan view-- upper surface; and

FIG. 16 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with nine leaflets -- plan view-- upper surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onobservations of one year old specimens made during February whilegrafted on Rosa indica understock and growing in greenhouses at Capd'Antibes, France. Color terminology in common terms precedes thereference to such chart.

Class: Hybrid Tea.

Plant:

Height.--Plants which were pruned to a height of 85 cm. commonlyproduced floral stems having a length of approximately 50 to 90 cm.

Habit.--Erect.

Branches:

Color.--Young stems: light green, Green Group 137B, more or less stainedwith reddish coloration. Adult wood: medium green, Yellow-Green Group146B.

Thorns.--Size: Medium. Quantity: few. Color: reddish on young stems andpinkish changing to tan on mature wood.

Leaves:

Stipules.--Adnate, pectinate, wide and jagged.

Petioles.--Upper surface: striped reddish brown on young foliage andmedium green on adult foliage with more or less glandular edges. Undersurface: light green, bear some small hooked prickles.

Leaflets.--Number: 3, 5, 7 (most often), and 9. Shape: spear-shaped.Serration: single and regular. Texture: consistent. General appearance:bright, full and dense foliage. Color (young foliage): Upper surface:medium green, Green Group 137A, more or less stained with reddishcoloration. Under surface: light green, Green Group 138B. Color (adultfoliage): Upper surface: dark green, Green Group 137A. Under surface:light green, Green Group 137C.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--General one per stem.

Peduncle.--Straight, upright, slightly stained with reddish coloration,bear numerous reddish prickles, approximately 15 to 18 cm. in length onaverage.

Sepals.--Upper surface: tomentose, and greenish in coloration. Undersurface: medium green in coloration, more or less stained with reddishbrown, the outside sepals have edges which are appendiculated and oftenend in a well-developed leaflike appendix.

Buds.--Shape: conical and elongated. Length: approximately 5 to 6 cm. onaverage. Size: very large. Color upon opening: Upper surface: strawberryred, Red Group 46B, and darker at the edge of the petals. Under surface:currant red, Red Group 46A.

Flower.--Shape: elongated, high centered when opening changing tocuplike when fully open. Diameter: approximately 13 to 14 cm. onaverage. Color (when open begins): Upper surface: guardsman red, RedGroup 45A. Under surface: currant red, Red Group 46A. Color (whenblooming): Upper surface: vermilion red, Red Group 44A. Under surface:cardinal red, Red Group 53C. Color (at end of opening): Upper surface:vermilion red, Red Group 44A. Under surface: cardinal red, Red Group53C. Fragrance: slight. Lasting Quality: long. Petal number:approximately 31 to 33 on average plus 2 or 3 petaloids commonly arepresent. Petal form: generally rounded. Texture: consistent. Petal drop:good. Stamen number: Approximately 256 to 259 on average commonly areobserved. Anthers: normal, pale yellow in coloration. Filaments: darkfuschia with yellow base, or irregular heights. Pistils: approximately206 to 266 on average commonly are observed. Stigmas: strawlike,sometimes bonded together, located above the stamens. Styles: lightfuschia, tomentose at the base, more or less twisted, of irregularheights. Receptacle: smooth, light green in coloration, and inlongitudinal section in the shape of a pitcher.

Development:

Vegetation.--Vigorous.

Blooming.--Very floriferous.

Aptitude to forcing.--Fair.

Resistance to diseases.--Good.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics:(a) formsin abundance attractive very large double blossoms which are vermilionred on the upper surface and cardinal red on the under surface andexhibit a long vase life, (b) exhibits an erect growth habit, (c) iswell suited for cut flower production in a greenhouse, (d) form vigorousvegetation, and (e) exhibits good resistance to cryptogamicdiseases;substantially as herein shown and described.